Storage needed for refugee aid collection

A plea for storage facilities has been made by volunteers collecting donations to help the plight of refugees camping in Calais.

The Helping Hands for Calais’ Refugees group, which is on Facebook, is looking for someone with space for them to store, sort and pack the goods they are currently being inundated with.

They are currently using a rented unit at Big Yellow Storage on White Lund but have run out of room. Sandi Haythornthwaite, who launched the appeal, said they had been overwhelmed by the goodwill of local people.

She said: “We would love to hear from anyone with a warehouse or storage space which they can donate to us for a month or so, which has room for parking and space for sorting and packing.”

Schools, churches and community groups are among those to have donated items to the appeal.

Many items have already been taken to a centre in Manchester and to an official CalAid drop-off point in London.

Sandi said: “We have been completely overwhelmed. We are getting carloads of donations from people.

“Everyone has been lovely and people have been really thinking carefully about what is needed.”

The group currently has a hold on donations but is due to lift this from Monday with a new list of required donations to be posted on their Facebook page, likely to include women’s clothes, medical supplies and toys.

If you can help, please contact the group by email at HelpingHandsforCalais@gmail.com.